Law enforcement agencies carried out operations at 17 locations across Washington, Oregon, and California on February 4, 2026, resulting in the arrest of 14 individuals. The arrests followed a wiretap investigation into a drug and gun trafficking organization linked to the Black Gangster Disciples street gang. First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced that Kevin Salgado, 27, of Puyallup, Washington, is alleged to have led the group distributing counterfeit oxycodone and Xanax pills, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine. Some members also allegedly conspired to possess firearms for use in drug distribution.
“The defendants in this indictment allegedly engaged in a wide range of criminal conduct – pressing narcotic pills for distribution, trafficking firearms and switches to make them machine guns, using those guns to settle scores with rival gangsters,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Neil Floyd. “Ringleader Kevin Salgado allegedly distributed the pills he manufactured in western Washington and across the country through the mail. So far three overdose deaths have been connected to Salgado’s activity.”
Homeland Security Investigations Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller stated: “Together with our Homeland Security Task Force, we’ve struck a major blow against violent crime—dismantling a dangerous criminal enterprise and making our communities safer. HSI is relentless in taking down transnational criminal organizations, seizing their drugs, removing their guns, cutting off their money, and bringing their members to justice. Protecting our neighborhoods from illicit activity remains our top priority.”
The indictment includes several other individuals from various cities in Washington as well as California and Oregon. Each defendant had different roles within the conspiracy. In March 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Gabriel Tovar’s residence after observing social media posts showing him with high-powered firearms equipped with extended magazines and machinegun conversion switches; agents seized 11 firearms—five reported stolen—and nine machinegun conversion devices.
Investigators found that some defendants hacked into drug distribution companies’ systems to reroute shipments of controlled substances for street sale. Data from iCloud accounts and phones indicated Newman and Bland diverted shipments to an address in Lynnwood, Washington before planning similar actions in Florida.
Another defendant was accused of paying kickbacks to an Oregon pharmacist for filling fake prescriptions for oxycodone and other narcotics. In June 2025, Isaac Briones was arrested while collecting a fraudulent prescription for promethazine and codeine.
Before Wednesday’s searches began, authorities had seized 38 firearms (nine with machinegun conversion devices), seven stolen weapons, over four kilograms of methamphetamine, more than two kilos of Phenazepam, and seven kilograms of counterfeit oxycodone pills.
On February 4 alone, law enforcement recovered 39 firearms and over 100 “Glock switches”—devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machineguns—as well as nearly one kilogram each of fentanyl pills and powder combined; additional quantities included hundreds of grams of methamphetamine and cocaine along with large amounts of counterfeit oxycodone and Xanax pills.
“DEA will aggressively target anyone who traffics drugs, diverts controlled substances, or uses guns to fuel criminal activity,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge at DEA Seattle Field Division. “This Tacoma street gang flooded our communities with fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and stolen prescription drugs while arming themselves with stolen firearms and Glock switches. DEA will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations and hold those responsible accountable for the harm they inflict on our communities as we build a Fentanyl Free America and save American lives.”
ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais commented: “This operation and its results are a prime example of what’s possible when agencies collaborate… Every single day ATF special agents… work tirelessly to prevent violent criminals from obtaining and using weapons that put lives at risk…”
Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti from U.S. Postal Inspection Service added: “Narcotics are destroying lives… Postal inspectors remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of these deadly drugs through the mail…”
Special Agent Carrie Nordyke from IRS Criminal Investigation said: “It’s always a win to get illegal drugs and guns off our streets… Together we are committed to making a continued difference by combatting drug trafficking…”
The charges remain allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The investigation forms part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159 aimed at eliminating criminal cartels operating domestically or abroad through coordinated interagency efforts involving multiple federal entities such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI,
DEA,
ATF,
U.S.
Marshals Service,
U.S.
Postal Inspection Service,
IRS-CI,
Secret Service,
Customs
and Border Protection,
and Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorneys Elyne Vaught
and Michael Harder.
